Removal of fuel subsidy blessing to state govts, says Uzodimma

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has described the removal of petrol subsidy as a direct blessing to state governments.

He said this during the inspection of some projects to celebrate the first year of his second term. According to him, more money now accrues to the coffers of state governments for the development.

“In reconciling the negative effects of the fuel subsidy removal and the benefits in terms of socio-infrastructure, social benefits, and then the ease of doing business occasioned by the provision of the enabling infrastructure, I think it is a blessing.

“It is a direct blessing, it is not a disguise to the sub-nationals because more monies are now coming to states and state governments must do things to show citizens that they are able to do these things because they now get more money as a result of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.”

Uzodimma was apparently restating the thinking of some of the governors following the new allocations the state governments are getting from the Federal accounts since the fuel subsidy removal came into effect. Recall that last year, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule asked Nigerians to hold governors to account over the improved allocation from the federation account.

While answering questions during a television interview, Sule noted that people were suffering and urged them to ask their governors what they were doing with the improved revenues from the federal government.

“Most of the time people are looking at some of the hard economic decisions the president has taken. That is his own style. Two decisions taken are bringing these economic reforms.

“One, is the subsidy removal and the second is the floating of the forex. These are the two major policies people keep on complaining about. And people are asking where the money is. The money is there. It is being given to various people and places and coming to the people in different ways.

“That is why I give you an example of what we are doing in Nasarawa. Yes, there is going to be difficulties; but instead of just looking at the federal government let the people hold every state governor responsible. What are you doing with the improved revenue you are getting? Until every state governor comes back and says we are doing this and that.

“President Tinubu doesn’t have land anywhere. The lands belong to the state. He can’t go and do agriculture anywhere, for example. They have already started construction of highways from Badagry to Calabar. The one from Calabar is coming to Abuja and the one from Badagry going to Sokoto State. There are many of them.

“The Federal Government would continue to do its own part. The same improved revenue the states have seen is the same improved revenue local governments see. The local governments in Nasarawa State when they receive their own after the FEC meeting they are getting 100% increase in their revenue. They used to receive N2.2 billion. Today they receive more than N4 billion. Local governments in Nasarawa do not owe anybody salary. They have some savings.”